The challenges of motorsport require a driver to be at peak physical and mental fitness. As the European Le Mans Series prepares to end its summer break this weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard, Daniel explains how he meets the challenge.

In May this year Daniel and the European Le Mans Series arrived at Imola for the second round of the championship. The iconic Italian circuit is a place of history and legend at any time, but that month was special – it was the 20th anniversary of the crash that claimed a giant of our sport. Daniel tells David Ironmonger what it was like to race at the home of Ferrari, when the world was remembering Ayrton Senna.

For all its unavoidable danger, motor racing is now far safer than in its early years when driver fatalities were an all too common feature. But the loss of Aston Martin’s Allan Simonsen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, then Lamborghini racer Andrea Mamé at the Paul Ricard Blancpain meeting, have acted as cruel reminders of what can happen. In this website exclusive, Daniel shares his thoughts on the unthinkable.

In this selection of photos – one per championship round – Daniel reveals the side of a race weekend that the fans don’t always see. From paddock to podium, from cresting a blind hill in Portimao to riding the kerbs of Monza, join him in this photo review of the 2012 season.

Daniel spent 2012 racing in the Formula Two championship, scoring two podiums and a string of top 10 results. In this interview with the official Formula Two website he reveals his highs and lows for the year.